Weak connection device for flexible thin-walled tubes of spacecraft

[0009] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in conjunction with the drawings.

[0010] figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the weak connection device of the flexible thin-walled tube of the spacecraft of the present invention, such as figure 1 As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the device includes a four-leg back support, a flexible gasket, a horizontal limiting rod, and a longitudinal limiting sheet. The above-mentioned weak connection device can realize a 90-degree connection between the flexible thin-walled tube and the connected piece when the cross-section changes. The four-leg back support is connected to the connected piece by glue or screw connection. The four-leg back support has through holes at the "four legs" to provide connection with the flexible thin-walled tube. The flexible thin-walled tube has four limit holes. The horizontal limit rod passes through the upper and lower limit holes and is fixed with the four-leg back bracket to realize the horizontal limit of the flexible thin-walled tube. The horizontal limit rod and the four-leg back The bracket is positioned by the limit nut; the longitudinal limit piece passes through the left and right limit holes and is fixed with the four-leg back bracket to realize the longitudinal limit of the flexible thin-walled tube. The longitudinal limit piece and the four-leg back bracket pass through the limit Split pin for positioning. Such as figure 1 As shown, after the flexible thin-walled pipe [1] is limited in the horizontal and vertical directions, it realizes a weak connection with the connected piece. The flexible gasket can effectively improve the local buckling resistance of the weakly connected flexible thin-walled pipe when subjected to the axial load applied by the connector.

[0011] figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the weak connection device during the deformation process of the flexible thin-walled tube section of the spacecraft of the present invention. Such as figure 2 As shown in the embodiment, the plane frame of the spacecraft composed of the flexible thin-walled tube connected to the connected parts through the weak connection device needs to be folded during launch to reduce the launch volume. The specific method is to flatten the flexible thin-walled tube, During the flattening process of the wall tube, the longitudinal dimension of the cross-section decreases along the transverse limit rod, and the transverse dimension of the cross section gradually increases along the longitudinal limit piece until the flexible thin-walled tube is completely flattened.

[0012] image 3 It is a schematic diagram of the weak connection device when the flexible thin-walled tube of the spacecraft of the present invention is crimped and folded. Such as image 3 Shown, press figure 2 The flattened flexible thin-walled tube can be crimped under the action of external force until it is completely folded.

[0013] The invention provides an effective connection for the flexible thin-walled tube and the connected piece, while ensuring that the flexible thin-walled tube avoids buckling, and has the advantages of simple structure, light weight, high reliability, and low cost. The weak connection device and the connection method of the spacecraft flexible thin-walled tube of the present invention can be applied to the connection of the spacecraft flexible thin-walled tube and other flexible structures or rigid structures for the construction of space antennas, solar cell arrays, solar panels, and sun protection Space expandable structures such as hoods and space housing modules provide an effective technical approach.